What To Expect

Proven, actionable advice that you can use each time you step out onto the ice.

I believe that half the battle of being a good hockey player is what I like to call ‘having a good hockey head‘. This is a MUST for having success out on the ice.

When you know the game better than everyone else, positioning and puck-decisions come easy. You’ll find yourself making better plays, scoring more goals, and being more of an asset than a liability for your team each and every time you’re out on the ice. And that’s with or without the puck!

How can you accomplish this when all your coach ever focuses on in practice is basic skills and a few minutes of systems?

Ben Levesque BuiltForHockey.com

If you play for fun, you probably don’t even think about improving your mind. This might be the one thing stopping you from being a player that your teammates count on to make a difference.

If you’re struggling to take your game to the next level (regardless of what you want that level to be), you’ll find my extensive knowledge of the game and the experience I’ve acquired through my career to be of great value in helping you have great on-ice performances on a regular basis.

About Ben

Follow Ben | @Builtforhockey

I’m a 25 year old guy from Montreal who has played hockey for as long as I can remember. Little did I know, the sport I started off playing for fun ended up changing my life forever. I consider myself one of the luckiest people in the world.

I didn’t make it to the NHL. I don’t have a multi-million dollar contract or endorsements from big brands (unfortunately). What I do have though, is two decades worth of hockey memories and experiences that have shaped me as a person and I’ll remember them forever.

My Story

I grew up playing minor hockey in a small suburb of Montreal. I was never amazing – just average. In fact, I was never the best on my team. I was still decent enough to consider double-letters, so I decided to tryout as early as I could. With some hard work and a bit of luck, I made the Atom CC squad. One of my proudest moments early on.

I decided I wanted more. I wanted to be the best that I could be. I wanted to be a professional hockey player.

At only 13, my parents and I decided it would be best for me to head to a high-school that offered a sports program where I could study in the morning and practice my skills in the afternoon. Luckily, there was one not too far from home that I was accepted in. This was a major turning point in my hockey career. The extra ice-time, the quality coaching, and the physical training I underwent each week put me miles ahead of most kids my age. I became faster, smarter, and stronger than my competition.

At 15, I was invited to the QMJHL draft. I wasn’t expecting anything as they usually take players from Major Midget and I was still only in Minor Midget. Nevertheless,I was selected 77th overall by the PEI Rocket, the proudest moment in my hockey career at the time.

I decided to join the Rocket at 17 years old, and boy did I pay my dues as a rookie. I was a healthy scratch most games, and when I cracked the lineup, I hardly played. I was traded halfway through the season to the Drummondville Voltigeurs. I was dissapointed at first because the Rocket didn’t give me much of a chance to prove myself, and I didn’t want my dream to end. Little did I know, this trade was the best thing that could ever have happened to me.

In Drummondville, I was lucky enough to be coached by Guy Boucher, who is in my opinion one of the brightest minds in the game and is one hell of a coach. To this day, I consider him one of the people who has impacted my life the most, both as a hockey player and as an individual. I spent four years in Drummondville, and helped them win their first ever President’s Cup in 2009. It was the best feeling I had ever felt in my life. I told myself I had to feel that again at some point in my life.

I had the opportunity only three years later when I joined the University of McGill Redmen and helped them win their first ever National Championship. I scored two goals and was named MVP of the game, along with having both my helmet and stick sent over to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto as a tribute to the McGill Redmen’s first ever Championship in 135 years (fun fact — they’re the oldest currently-operating hockey club in the world!). Words can’t describe how good it felt. History was made.

I was on top of the world.

In my remaining years of eligibility, I was named Captain of the team and went on to lead the Redmen to two successful seasons, making it to nationals for what would be the last time of my career.

We came up short.

It’s true that the ones you let slip are the ones you keep count of. I’m proud of my two titles, but as a player who always wants more, it’s never enough.

In my last year of eligibility, I ended up winning the Richard Pound award for the athlete who demonstrates leadership and proficiency in athletics. This achievement is one I’m extremely proud of because it’s about more than just hockey – it’s a testament to my character and how my leadership skills improved over my career.

builtforhockey.com Ben levesque

If you’ve ever asked yourself any of the questions below,

you’re in the right place.

“How can I improve my hockey sense?”

“How can I be a better forward or defensemen?”

“How can I dominate rec./beer league if I only get to skate once a week?”

“How can I better play my role in order to get more ice-time and be seen by scouts?”

“How can I get on the score-sheet more often?”

“How can I be a player that teammates have confidence in each time I’m on the ice?”

“What is it like to play at a high level, and how can I make sure I’m prepared?”